Anxiety over College Acceptance Letter

I've applied to a number of colleges and I'm kinda freaking out waiting for the acceptance letters. What's the average wait time between application and decision notification? And what do I do if I'm waitlisted? Kinda nervous over here.

The wait time between application submission and decision notification can vary quite a bit depending on a few factors such as the particular institution, whether you applied Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or Regular Decision (RD), and also the general timeline of that admissions cycle. On average though, here's a rough guideline:

- Early Decision/Early Action: Decisions for these applications typically arrive in mid-December.

- Regular Decision: Responses usually arrive between end of March to mid-April.

However, please note that these are average timelines and each individual institution may have its own schedule.

As for what to do if you're waitlisted, it's a good idea to write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). This is a communication you send to the college expressing your high level of interest in their institution and how much you'd love to attend if offered an opportunity. This can often be a space to mention any new significant accomplishments or qualifications you've earned since the application was submitted. But remember, it's important to be respectful and not to pester the admissions office.

Remember to have back-up options. Being waitlisted isn’t a rejection, but it’s not an acceptance either. It’s always wise to consider and accept offers from other schools where you've been admitted. If you then get off the waitlist at your first-choice college, you may lose the deposit you put down at the initial school, but that's a relatively small price for attending your top-choice institution.

It's understandable to be anxious, but know that every year, millions of students go through this exact process, and come out just fine on the other side. Best of luck!